Profile: Maryland’s Herb Basket

Maryland Massey lectures frequently about her teas; here she hosts a spring tea for Crow Farmstay guests. photo:loblolly.biz

If you find yourself in or around Millington this coming weekend, pop over to Maryland’s Herb Basket for some holiday shopping and fun. Never been there? It’s a good time to visit, because Maryland is having an open house featuring wassail, cranberry juice with a mix of her mulling spices, free holiday gift wrap, and live music by yours truly.

Maryland Massey is celebrating her 25th year at the shop at Hazel Lane. She and her late husband had lived in the house next door since 1960, and bought the second one – which became the store –  in 1985. The house was built about 1890, and they spent two years renovating it before they opened. In keeping with the spirit, they furnished the shop with antiques and family heirlooms.

Massey started her first garden in 1970, growing cucumbers and dill to make pickles, and the rest is “herb-story.” She says she was successful at growing everything she tried, except rosemary, which is only grown in the Mediterranean (though hybrids can grow in the U.S. as far north as Salem, Massachusetts). Massey eventually won the battle, and now it’s one of her favorite things grow; she wants to write a book about her quest: Requiem of Rosemary.

Massey took me on a tour of her gardens, which she keeps separated for different purposes. First was her medicine garden, where she grows horehound, feverfew, comfrey, poppy, motherwort and lungwort (“wort” means herb). She told me the ancients derived the medicinal uses of herbs from the doctrine of signatures, or how the plants’ physical characteristics signify its benefits – for example plants with red stems are used for blood disorders. Since then, many of these remedies have been proven by modern medicine.

Maryland’s Herb Basket has herbs for many other purposes other than medical. Massey has Sweet Annie and Silver King artemesias for wreath making, and a Victorian flower garden with lemon balm, basil and tansy; are all good insect repellents. Of course she also has a wide range of  culinary herbs such as tarragon, fennel, garlic chives and several varieties of sage. With these Massey creates spice blends including dill dip mix, fool’s boursin and herb de Provence. In addition she sells her own herbal teas and  aromatherapy blends. She adds springs of herbs to her wrapped gifts.

Aside from Massey’s own herbs and blends, you can find secondhand collectibles, local gifts , such as Chesapeake soaps, and Caswell Massey rosewater and lavender water. The newest item at the shop is first flush ( first harvest of the year) green and Darjeeling Glenburn Teas from India.

Interested in learning more about plant use and lore? Massey is a wealth of information! She gives talks, writes articles and is a 30-year member of the Herb Society of America, whose mission is to educate people about herbs.

Maryland’s Herb Basket is usually open Fridays and Saturdays 10am-5pm and is located at 399 Hazel Lane  Millington, MD 21651.

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